On Thursday, Stephen Ehikian, acting administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), held his first all-hands meeting with staff since his appointment by President Donald Trump. The event drew hundreds of employees in person, with thousands more participating online. While the meeting’s atmosphere was courteous, the live stream chat revealed a different sentiment.
Employees expressed frustration and concern about recent changes within the agency. Despite Ehikian’s assurance that his door was always open, staff reported limitations on their access to the workplace and voiced their need for clarity regarding workforce reductions. One employee boldly stated, “We don’t want an AI demo, we want answers to what is going on with [reductions in force].”
Instead of providing these answers, the meeting focused on showcasing GSAi, a chatbot designed to assist with everyday tasks. This AI tool was developed by the Technology Transformation Services team within the GSA, which supports the idea of more advanced AI systems that could access government databases. Currently, 1,500 employees are using GSAi, with plans to expand its availability to more than 13,000 staffers.
Under the leadership of Ehikian and his associates, including former Tesla engineer Thomas Shedd, AI has become a central focus at GSA. While a media roundtable featured the chatbot, it became apparent that employees were more keen on discussing staffing concerns than technological advancements. They criticized the meeting as unproductive, with many questioning whether showcasing the AI was the best use of a heavily taxed workforce’s time.
The recent administrative changes have led to over 1,800 employees opting for deferred resignations, heightening anxiety among those still in the agency. An employee articulated the inefficiency of returning to the office, with much of the work still being conducted digitally. Concerns were also raised about the removal of software tools essential to daily tasks, with staff pleading for updates regarding the restoration of programs like Adobe Pro.
When asked for clarification about the presence of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff at GSA, Ehikian responded that there was no dedicated DOGE team. However, many employees questioned this claim, citing their observations of young staff members working on the premises.
The chat during the meeting reflected widespread skepticism toward the agency’s direction. Employees pointed out the potential drawbacks of cuts to the workforce, emphasizing that while reduced expenditures could appear as savings, they could also diminish the value provided to the public.
Ehikian’s presentation included GSA’s goals, such as streamlining operations and optimizing spending. He stated substantial savings achieved through cost-cutting measures, although employees remained doubtful about the accuracy of these claims. They pressed for comprehensive evaluations of the negative impacts of workforce reductions.
As the meeting concluded, staff members reflected on the organization’s uncertain trajectory and expressed a longing for transparency and engagement from their leaders. The palpable tension and dissatisfaction during the event underscored an organization grappling with significant shifts amid the push for modernization and efficiency.
